L'Aquila earthquake

All of Italy remembers waking up that spring morning to the news that one of the most beautiful medieval cities in Abruzzo had been devastated overnight. Everyone just sat there, staring at the images: broken churches, historic palaces reduced to rubble, families in tents in the cold. There was a sense of national bewilderment, of being unable to make sense of what had happened and what it would mean for that community.

309 people died, and thousands lost everything in a matter of seconds.

And yet, what followed was something remarkable. The earthquake in Abruzzo revealed a side of Italy that those who know the country will recognize immediately: an extraordinary capacity for human closeness and solidarity in moments of need. Volunteers poured in from across the country. Firefighters worked for days without rest. Neighbors helped neighbors through the rubble.

Over 15 years later, L'Aquila is still recovering, and that recovery is actually very worth witnessing. Much of the historic center has been painstakingly restored, church by church, palace by palace. Walking through it today means moving through a living restoration, a city that refuses to be reduced to its wound.

So if you're planning a trip anytime soon, keep it in mind: L'Aquila absolutely deserves a visit.